Vedanta's Lanjigarh Rehabilitation colony hailed as a model

Apart from its neat layout, what is impressive is the provision of primary schooling and medical facility within the campus itself.

BHUBANESWAR: Vedanta's Rehabilitation colony in Odisha's Kalahandi district has come in for praise by a UNDP panel for its unique features and has been hailed as a model colony for others to emulate.

Niyamgiri Vedanta Nagar, located at the foothills of the picturesque mountain, houses 121 displaced families who opted to stay in the area close to Vedanta's Lanjigarh refinery, a senior company official said.

Each family has been provided a pucca house with toilet, water and electricity facilities. Built within a perimeter wall, the colony has been provided with all modern facilities like black top road, drainage, market complex, temple, school building and a well-equipped community centre with provision for Television and music, he said.

Apart from its neat layout, what is impressive is the provision of primary schooling and medical facility within the campus itself.

The pre-schooling facility provided for the tiny tots in the age group of three to five years has an average enrolment of around 35 children, mostly tribals, who are provided with breakfast and food supplements to encourage the habit of attending school and getting formally educated.

For middle-school students a computer centre with an instructor has been provided. Livelihood initiatives have been given a boost, especially for women. They are engaged in mid-day meal, tailoring, phenyl making etc.

Impressed by the facilities provided in the colony, a UNDP panel which visited several such resettlement areas in the state including Lanjigarh, gave a report to the state government showering praise, sources said.

The panel also felt that the colony can work as a model for others to emulate, they said.

What has added to the development of this colony is the fact that around 75 individuals opted to work in the plant rather than opt for a lump sum compensation, an official said.

Today, after undergoing suitable training, they are drawing more than fifteen thousand rupees a month and have started commuting in motorcycles.

This colony is becoming a model village and looking at their life style the villagers of nearby Rengopali and Bandhuguda have expressed their interest to give up their land to the plant in the palli-sabhas held in 2012 and live in this colony which has all the modern amenities.